Identifying Characteristics: Grows to ~3’ high and ~5’+ wide (spreading) Leaves are lime-green [‘Firecracker’ variety has tomentose (“fuzzy”) leaves] Bark is grayish light-brown Flowers are bright red and most abundant in spring
Landscape Values: Fast growth rate once established Sprawling habit (suitable for groundcover) Attractive evergreen foliage plant (e.g. when out of bloom) Strongly attracts hummingbirds Forage for Checkerspot Butterfly caterpillars
Horticultural Requirements: Full to part sun (performs best with a few hours of shade, any time of day) Drought-tolerant but tolerates garden watering (deep watering maintains foliage during drought) Grows well from the seaside to the mountains Tolerates a range of drainage (slow to fast) Neutral soil acidity/alkalinity (pH 6.0-8.0) Tip-prune intermittently for compactness, if desired, minimizing flower/bud removals Structural (drop) pruning is best done in late-summer, if desired, when old/woody stems may be removed
Native Range: Catalina, San Clemente, Guadalupe Islands
Uses by Native Americans: Unknown
For more information about the N/E/X/T/Garden, where this Featured Native Plant grows, click here. For additional information about this Featured Native Plant, email: Info@PalisadesBeautiful.org.